Tigers beat Sox, end five-game skid  —  BOSTON — As Jim Leyland said over the weekend, the Tigers' struggles are nothing a big home run or a well-pitched game can't solve.  —  The latter came on Monday night — in Fenway Park, of all places, and against David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, of all people.

Notes: Frandsen recalled  —  Utility infielder takes roster spot of departing Vizcaino  —  SAN DIEGO — You know a ballplayer is a "gamer" when he shows up in the clubhouse smiling despite a still-healing scratch on his face and swollen left cheek and jaw from being hit by a 90-something-mph pitch only the night before.

Pedro Martinez leaves with injury after first inning as Phillies pound Mets 13-0  —  PHILADELPHIA — Pedro Martinez felt a twinge in his calf before the game, and felt the effects during a terrible first inning.  —  The New York Mets could only hope a bad outing was the worst of his problems.

Notes: Marlins monitoring rookie hurlers  —  Four first-year starters expected to exceed 2005 workload  —  LOS ANGELES — Going with four rookies in the rotation has the Marlins closely monitoring innings.  —  Ideally, the organization is eyeing its first-year starters to log between 180-200 innings for the season.

Letdown?  Not in this slap-down  —  Never complacent, Sox put up 8 in 4th, cruise to 5th straight  —  With first-place Detroit in the early stages of snapping a five-game losing streak Monday night at Boston, the White Sox provided their own form of satisfaction.

Notes: Scheinder quiet following blowup  —  Catcher not available to media following incident on Sunday  —  WASHINGTON — A day after losing his temper during a postgame interview, catcher Brian Schneider was not available to talk to the media on Monday.  —  After the Nationals lost …

Center fielder's left hand was hit by pitch Saturday  —  TWINS REPORT  —  Scheduled to have X-rays on his swollen left hand, Torii Hunter instead canceled those plans when he got to the Metrodome on Sunday morning and said he was ready to play.  —  "I didn't want them,'' said Hunter …

Rockies, Astros discussing Wilson deal  —  Houston outfielder one of 12 'designated' players available  —  Will it be a Rockies' redux for Preston Wilson?  —  Colorado and Houston have been discussing a deal that would reunite the outfielder with the franchise he played for from 2003 through the first half of last season.

Castilla signs minor league contract  —  DENVER (AP) - Vinny Castilla couldn't contain the ear-to-ear grin.  He smiled as photos were snapped, and grinned when he answered questions.  —  Castilla was elated to be back with the Colorado Rockies, agreeing to terms on a minor-league contract Monday …

Ace's Injury Is Cause for Concern  —  The Mets managed for a month without their ace, Pedro Martínez, and now there is a good chance they will have to do without him again.  Martínez strained his right calf muscle Monday night while warming up before the Mets' 13-0 loss against the Phillies …

Angels settle for split after losing finale  —  Halos can't find a way to solve Yanks left-hander Johnson  —  NEW YORK — The Angels seem to be running in place.  —  After posting the best record in the Majors in July by winning 19 out of 26 games, they've split their last 14.

Sports Media 'Experts' On Gambling, Illicit Sex  —  There's a phrase for what happened to Paul Lo Duca this week: witch hunt.  First, in the New York Post when after the catcher and made all kinds of extravagant claims about the catcher's personal life.  Then The Daily News, having been …

Encarnacion named NL's best of week  —  Third baseman helped Reds pull close to Cards in race  —  While the Reds are at the top of the Wild Card heap in the National League as of Monday, they are setting their sights a little higher these days.  —  Reds third baseman Edwin Encarnacion …

Notes: A's roster coming together  —  Kennedy returns with Crosby, Harden on the horizon  —  OAKLAND — The A's on Monday took a few more steps toward the goal of getting their ideal 25-man roster together for the stretch drive.  —  In addition to welcoming back lefty reliever Joe Kennedy …